Gage for sand-boxes.



PATHNTBD APR. 19, 1904.

T. E. MOONEY.

GAGE FOB. SAND BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED Amma, 1903.

30 MODEL.

witnaaaeo Patented. April 19, 1904.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. MOONEY, OF SOHENEOTADY, NEW YORK.

GAGE FOR SAN D-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,947, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed August 29, 1903.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. MOONEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady. in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gages for Sand-Boxes, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in gages for sand-boxes of locomotive-engines and other cars employing sand. Its object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which may be readily attached to the sandbox and which will accurately indicate the quantity of sand contained within the box.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruc tion, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive sand-box having my improved gageattached thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the sand-box and gage, the same being partly shown in section. Fig. 3 is a section through the gage. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through a portion of the gage and showing the indicator in elevation; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modified form of gage in position within a sand-box, said box being partly broken away.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a sand-box having a tube 2 connected to one side thereof and arranged vertically thereon. This tube has a longitudinally-extending slot 3, which extends for a desired distance from the lower end thereof, and the upper end Of the tube bends downward, as shown at 4:, and opens in the top of the sand-box. A. slide 5 is loosely mounted within the tube 2 and has a stem 6 projecting from one side thereof and through the slot 3. Arranged on the outer end of this stem is a button 7 or other suitable form of index. An eye 8 extends from the upper end of the slide 5, and to it is secured one end of a flexible strip 9. This strip extends through the upper end of the tube 2 and is connected to a weight 10, which is adapted to be supported upon the sand 11 contained within the box.

Serial No. 171,264. (No model.)

The strip 9 is of such length as to permit the index 7 to rest at the lower end of slot 3 when the weight 10 is resting on the sand after the box has been filled.

It will be understood that as the sand is discharged from the box the weight 10 will be carried downward therewith by gravity, and as the weight is much heavier than the strip 9 and slide 5 said slide will be drawn upward within the tube 2 and the index 7 will accurately indicate the quantity of sand remaining within the box.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of gage. It is much simpler than that above described and consists of a weight 11, arranged within the sand-box and bearing on the sand.

A rod 12 extends upward from the weight and is slidably mounted within the tube of the sand-box. When the sand is discharged from the box, the weight will move down with it and carry the rod 12, and the contents of the box will thus be accurately indicated.

In the foregoing description 1 have shown the preferred form'of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes and alterations as may fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a sand-box; of an upright tube opening into the top thereof and extending downward, a weight in the sandbox adapted to be seated on the sand therein, a slide within the tube and lighter than the weight, an index within a slot in the tube and connected to the slide, and a flexible connection between said weight and the slide, said connection being concealed within the tube.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. MOONEY. 

